Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“Look! Is this for me?” she asked, darting to the bedside where silky underthings had appeared.
“I would look silly in them,” her Daddy’s voice sounded from the closet. “I guess you’ll have to wear them. Wait. I will help you with them.”
Aurora set the panties back on the bed. How had he known she was getting ready to put them on? Her fingers caressed the soft material that was simple and free of any froufrou decorations. She hated lace. It was too itchy to wear.
“Here is your pretty dress. I have looked forward to seeing you in this.” He draped the garment over the bed and picked up the scrap of fabric she’d just set down.
She loved the feel of his hands on her body as he dressed her. He caressed her skin as he drew each item into place, and she basked in his attention. When she finally wore her black dress, Aurora felt sexier than she ever had before.
“Let me brush out your hair,” he told her after pressing a kiss to her exposed shoulder.
“Please!”
The feel of him sliding the brush through her hair made the last of the day’s tension evaporate. She wanted to purr contentedly like a cat.
“I hope you will indulge me, Little one. I chose a treasure for you. Go check your jewelry box.”
“I don’t need anything else,” she assured him as she walked to get her tiara.
“Perhaps I am the one who needs this,” he suggested.
Lifting the top of the gorgeous box, she discovered a set of earrings nestled inside. Set in gold was a deep, dark sapphire gem with amber stones encircling it. The earrings reminded her of his flashing eyes. She knew immediately these needed to be hers.
“Oooh! I love them.”
“Good, the jeweler finished them very recently. Let me see them on.”
Carefully picking up her tiara as well, Aurora returned to his side. He brushed her fingers away when she tried to take out her ordinary stud earrings. She relaxed in front of him, letting Drake take care of her.
In a short time, he instructed, “Look in the mirror, Little one.”
Aurora turned to look at herself and blinked. Who was that woman in the reflection? She looked so much more than herself. And with her debonair mate behind her, Aurora couldn’t believe that was her.
“What do you think?”
“I look like a dragon’s mate,” she whispered.
“You’ve always looked like my mate, Little one. Now, you look like a snack.”
Caught off guard by his words, Aurora turned around and laughed. “Is that what you want to do to me… Snack on me?”
“Always.” He drew her close and leaned in to kiss her before standing back up. “You are my greatest distraction. Come. Let me feed you.”
“I’m not wearing any shoes, silly,” she reminded him.
“Oh, yes.” He walked into the closet and returned, holding red slippers with flames going down the sides.
Laughing, Aurora said, “I can’t wear those with my fancy clothes and jewelry.”
“I make the rules around here, Little one. Comfort is more important than spiked heels. If you and I are happy, you get to make your own style.”
“But flames?”
“You are a dragon’s mate,” he reminded her.
As she laughed, he knelt at her feet to guide her toes into the soft slippers. She balanced herself with a hand on his back, loving the feel of his strength and stability.
“How does that feel?” he asked as he stood.
“Heavenly. What are we having for dinner?”
“Let’s go see.”
Drake offered her his elbow and escorted them down the hall. He stopped in front of a camera that had been set up to take their picture. Grabbing a handheld device from the top of the camera, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close.
“Smile, Little one.”
Automatically, her mouth curved in a grin. How had he gotten this all set up? She posed next to him, feeling all glamorous—even in her slippers.
“Thank you, Drake. I don’t have any pictures of us together,” she told him.
Drake cupped her jaw and leaned in for a kiss. Heat flamed between them, leaving them both breathless as he visibly forced himself to take a step away. “You are dangerous, Little one.”
“I know. It’s the shoes. They almost made you kiss the tiara off me.”
As he stared at her, she watched his expression filled with desire soften into delight. “That is completely unacceptable for a princess to lose her crown.”
“I know, right? Feed me?”
“Let’s go.”
After a meal of endless courses and all the silverware, Aurora ate the last bite of her dessert and proclaimed, “That’s it. I’m going to explode if I eat any more.”
“There is more crème brûlée if you would like,” Drake said enticingly.
Aurora was tempted but held strong to her decision. “I would love it, but you don’t want to scrape me off the walls when I blow up.”